http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/opinion/editorial/article_6195b5e4-c095-56f1-889f-9655270f8bbd.html
-
Recent Comments
Monthly Archives: December 2010
Jeffrey Scherer was quoted in this USA Today Article concerning the homeless. While the article abbreviated his thoughts and concerns about the homeless, it is an accurate quotation. Primarily, he is concerned that many citizens would like the homeless situation to simply “go away.” In fact, it cannot. It is a societal problem that, thankfully, many enlightened libraries are trying to face directly and honestly. The Madison Public Library central library planning process has been open, direct, and fair about this issue. MS&R believe that the library, properly designed, can accommodate everyone—regardless of economic, social, ethnic, or racial background.
Overall Conceptual Framework Libraries: The Factors Affecting Their Place in a Changing World of Technology
“In human affairs the logical future, determined by past and present conditions, is less important than the willed future, which is largely brought about by deliberate choices.”–Rene Dubos,
Several factors are converging at the beginning of the 21st century to define the vitality of the library. These factors require us to take a close examination of the role of the library in a world which is becoming dependent on immediate access to information to remain competitive and current. This dependency is born out of the increasing interdependency of world markets and cultures. There factors include:
The information factor
Over the past few decades, “information” has moved from knowledge derived from study or experience to a commodity that can be collected, processed, distributed and commoditized. This trend, of course, is essential as the information is transmitted over glass or copper conduits–rather than imprinted on a piece of paper. This trend is not limited to the written word. Machine controls, image processing, video signals, radio, voice processing, ultrasonic imaging and drawing are all forms of information. This merging of different medium and contents into one form–information–creates a term which is, according to German linguist Uwe Purksen, an “amoebae word with over two dozen connotations.” The more that information is seen as a common commodity, the greater the demand will be for access. The role the library plays in disseminating this information is central to our society.
The cross-pollination factor
Libraries, by virtue of the physical proximity of books devoted to a variety of disciplines, enable users to advance their studies not simply in logical progressions but in serendipitous, non-linear ways–often referred to as “browsing.” This is part of the magic of the traditional library environment. Browsing through a book stack may lead to previously unthought of connections. While researching the economics of soybean production, for example, a student may see an article on recycled building materials made from newsprint and soybeans. This serendipitous discovery could lead to new thoughts about the economics of production. The challenge is for libraries to preserve the magic, to retain an environment where the cross-pollination of ideas can flourish in concert with the strict, sequential nature of digitally stored information. Libraries are the element in our society which maintain the essential continuity between the ages and the requisite cross-references between all forms of information.
The flexibility factor
The ever-evolving nature of information technology is continually straining the resources and physical plants of many libraries, which have made valiant efforts to keep abreast of the quickening pace of technological innovation–the Internet, video-text, digital sky-broadcast, real-time cross-platform editing, digitized text transmission and duplicating and consolidation of the information industries. “If we want everything to remain as it is, it will be necessary for everything to change.” (Lampedusa, Giuseppe Tomasi Di. (1958) The Leopard.) Yet the establishment of networks of libraries can increase sharing and reduce duplication–while freeing up resources to cope with these changes and provide better service. The libraries must be designed to remain flexible and adaptable to ever-changing technologies. While this re-engineering takes place, the libraries will continue to serve traditional uses. Says Alan G. Merten, dean of Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management: “It’s not emerging, but merging technologies that are important to understand.” This merging will demand flexibility.
The uncertainty factor
The new technologies are redefining how the library user interacts with the library and how the library makes information available. The issues affecting library design include
- the multiplicity of content formats and methods of information storage, cataloging and dissemination
- the choices affecting which print undergoes digital conversion and the desire to maximize accessibility of the library’s resources (e.g., remote access, hours of operation, privacy and personal workspace).
“If we had a reliable way to label our toys good and bad, it would be easy to regulate technology wisely. But we can rarely see far enough ahead to know which road leads to damnation. Whoever concerns himself with big technology, either to push it forward or to stop it, is gambling in human lives.” (Dyson, Freeman. (1979) Disturbing the Universe, pt. 1, ch. 1.) We simply do not understand the complete implication of technology. Sometimes the lack of knowledge about a technology is not an excuse for advocating its particular power or importance. Conversely, the more that is known, the more cautious one becomes.
The accessibility factor
The resolution of the theoretical and practical will define the library of the future. Whether it is defined as virtual or real does not, ultimately, matter. The issue is the manner in which libraries enable people to have equal access and embrace the content for their own purposes. As the power and cost of methods to retrieve information move in opposite directions, more and more information will become accessible. Yet this ever increasing quantity of information can lead to chaos. As this quantity increases, the need for quality maps and guides also increases. Commercial enterprises will certainly make sure that the most marketable elements are clearly visible and accessible. It is the non-commercial, content-rich research materials that may be obfuscated without libraries and librarians. These people are trained to cross-reference and provide pointers.
The transparency factor
As the methods for searching the world’s information sources standardizes, more and more people will have common means for accessing and retrieving the information they need for business, education and entertainment. Out of necessity, students, individuals and business are, for the first time, using common tools to reach these sources of information.
On December 7 and 8, 2010, Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle, Ltd of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Potter Lawson of Madison, Wisconsin presented to the public, library board and foundation the final Schematic Design for the new “re-imimagined” central public library. The “new” 118,500 square foot library emerge from a total reconstruction of the existing 95,000 square foot library. Features will include
- New children’s room with interactive technology, reconfigurable story-time room and fully integrated computer areas for all age groups
- A new entrance along Mifflin Street (further south from the existing entry) for easier access to the library from the city parking garage and senior center
- A reconfigured entry that will replace the wind-swept and inhospitable existing open plaza with a weather protected entry
- After hours access to 75- and 250-person meeting rooms
- New third floor with potential sedum green roof and terrace; this floor will also include the “Madison Room” which will serve two purposes: reading room and pre-function space for the 250 seat meeting room (divisible)
- A dedicated teen area located adjacent to a new, technology production center where individuals, not-for-profits and businesses can create digital content (such as podcasts.)
- Two totally reconfigured adult services floors with multiple space for meeting, study and research. These floors will have maximum flexibility.
- A design that will be minimally LEED Silver
- Solar array on the roof
- Automated materials handling room that will sort returned books from the first and ground floor
- Coffee shop
- Five times the number of public computers (100) and fully powered study tables for laptop access
